X. Zhang et al. (Eds.): Edutainment 2010, LNCS 6249, pp. 561568, 2010. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010

Digital Animation: Repercussions of New Media on Traditional Animation Concepts

Filipe Costa Luz

MovLab - Universidade Lusfona de Humanidades e Tecnologias Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024, Lisboa, Portugal

filipe.luz@ulusofona.pt http://movlab.ulusofona.pt/

Abstract. The introduction of digital techniques in film production has revolutionized an entire technical universe and suggests new aesthetics where the image is overlapping the traditional story that is told. A new culture is based upon an emerging phenomenon driven by the dissolution of the boundaries between film captured by a video camera (live action footage) and computer-generated images (CGI), to the point of Manovich suggesting that film is a sub-genre of animation.In this work we seek to reconcile the traditional definition of animation with digital animation and film, seeking characteristics in new technologies to decode digital manipulations repercussions upon the animation process. Analyzing examples of Anime , cartoons, motion capture (mocap) and 3D visual effects upon film, we seek to show that animation has contours that must be defined in order to understand where animated film or performance in animation begins.

Keywords: Animation; Film, Mocap; Rotoscope; Digital Manipulation.

1 Introduction (for a Definition of Animation) The Animation Society currently is discussing the definition of animation. The way in which the introduction of new techniques interferes with the creative process of traditional animation production calls into question the concept of animation. Rotoscope is considered by many to be a technique that reproduces movement - not pure animation - so Oscar nominations of films such as Happy Feet (Warner Bros, 2006) or Monster House (Sony, 2006) immediately triggered many doubts (Riedman, 2007).

The film Polar Express (Robert Zemeckis, 2004) is an example of this point of view, since we do not see an animated character, only the direct representation of the actor Tom Hanks, as well as in Happy Feet, where we fall in love with the fantastic tap dancing of the little penguin, or better stated, the dancing of Savion Glover. Could animators be losing their key role in the film industry due to the excessive allure of visual effects? Has animation been transformed into a computer effect?

The introduction of computers brought a new pencil, with animation now under the influence of digital manipulation, currently recognizing the fascination with the

568 F.C. Luz

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor Joo MCS Abrantes and Jos Maria Dinis for their support in terms of time, assistance and knowledge and to the Fundao para a Cin-cia e Tecnologia for supporting Project ADOPT_DTV: Barriers to digital television adoption in the context of the digital switchover (PTDC/CCI-COM/102576/2008).

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